Bradshaw

That he was successful was a surprise to no one.

In carding a five-under par score for his three rounds over the Pete Dye course in Bridgeport, Bradshaw had silenced the field of professionals and amateurs for his near-record 12th time in the past 17 years.

Bradshaw, a native of Bakerton now living in San Diego, Calif., took the lead in the three-day event after a second round, four-under round of 68. Going into the third and final round he had surged to a three-shot lead, the margin of victory he could claim after posting a one-under 71 in his final round.

Now age 39, Bradshaw posted rounds of even-par 72, 68 and 71 to make it an even dozen state championships since winning his first Open title as an amateur in 2004.

Snead

Even with all his success in his home-state Open, Bradshaw still has the famed Sam Snead in his sights, because Snead actually won 17 Open championships during his decades-long reign as one of the PGA’s best-ever players.

After his second round score of 68 — which included seven birdies — Bradshaw had achieved a three-stroke lead. In his final round, he saw his lead shrink to one shot after a poor tee shot found the weeds. But he never lost the lead and actually increased it when he had only one bogey over the tournament’s last 10 holes.

Mason Williams finished second to Bradshaw with his three-day total of two-under par. Like Bradshaw, Williams posted a one-under round of 71 on the final day. Williams was also the tournament’s low amateur.

This week, Bradshaw will be entered in the Tri-State PGA Frank Fuhrer, Jr. Invitational in Pittsburgh, Pa.

In winning in Bridgeport, Bradshaw collected the $10,000 first-place prize money.

Williams

Snead’s last win at the West Virginia Open came in 1973 when he was 51 years old. He is credited with 82 PGA wins. Bradshaw is now five Open wins shy of Snead’s all-time record mark and shows no signs of slowing down against the state’s competition.